The National Institute of Forensic Medicine in Tel Aviv has deployed a team of 10 doctors with the aim of accelerating the identification process of the bodies of recently murdered hostages. In an emotional handover ceremony, Israeli citizens lined the roads waving Israeli flags as military ambulances transported the coffins of the victims and murdered citizens.
Across the country, flags flew at half-mast in memory of Shiri Bibas, her two young children, Ariel and Kfir, along with Oded Lifshitz, who were kidnapped on October 7, 2023, at the Kibbutz Nir Oz. During the ceremony presided over by the Chief Rabbi of the IDF, Brigadier General Eyal Karim, Psalm 83 was recited in honor of the hostages. The coffins wrapped in Israeli flags were meticulously inspected to ensure the absence of explosives and the return of personal belongings of the victims.
Meanwhile, the Israeli Ministry of Health is investigating the exact cause of death of the hostages. In the early hours of this Thursday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) received the bodies of four hostages murdered by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, marking an unprecedented event, as this is the first time the terrorist group has delivered the remains of abductees since the deadly attack that claimed 1,211 lives, mostly civilians.
The bodies of Argentine-Israeli Shiri Bibas, her children Ariel and Kfir, and Oded Lifshitz were delivered as part of an agreement between Israel and the Iran-backed extremist group, and the procedure took place in southern Gaza. So far, 19 Israeli hostages have been released in exchanges facilitated by the Red Cross, and over 1,100 Palestinian prisoners have been released.
Minister Uriel Busso mentioned that the identification process at the Abu Kabir forensic institute could take time, as efforts are made to clarify the precise circumstances that led to the victims' deaths. In a memorial act, people gathered under the rain to honor the deceased. Before being transported to Israel, the bodies were handed over to Israeli troops in Gaza by the Red Cross.
Of the 14 remaining hostages in the agreement, eight have been declared dead due to the brutal conditions of their captivity. The identification process will be conducted with utmost care to avoid any errors.
